The Rivers State Government has disclosed that it saved over N5 billion from the payment of salaries for the month of August following the ongoing verification exercise in the state’s public service.
The Sole Administrator , Ibok-Ete Ibas, who disclosed this at the closing of the Civil Service Week celebrations at Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt on Tuesday, said the savings were made possible through reforms targeted at eliminating ghost workers, payroll fraud, and other financial leakages that had drained public funds for years.
The celebrations, themed, “Five Years to 2030: Accelerating Public Service Delivery for a Sustainable Future,” served as a platform to honour the state’s civil servants, whom the Administrator described as “the backbone of this administration and our unsung heroes.”
He explained that the exercise was part of a broader agenda to reposition the state’s civil service for greater efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
“This reform is not about punishing genuine workers but about ensuring that only those who are legitimately employed by the government are on the payroll. Every naira saved will be channeled into infrastructure, healthcare, education, and other critical sectors,” he said.
Ibas disclosed that several irregularities were uncovered during the verification, including multiple salary collection, fictitious employment, and deceased retirees who still appeared on the payroll.
He further announced that the government would soon roll out sweeping public service reforms aimed at modernizing the system. These include the full digitization of personnel records, the introduction of biometric verification, and the strengthening of disciplinary measures against fraudulent practices.
Civil servants who were cleared in the first phase of the verification exercise have already received their August salaries, while others with discrepancies are undergoing further scrutiny, he added.
The administrator urged workers and unions to support the reforms, stressing that the long-term benefits would guarantee prompt salary payments, better working conditions, and more resources for development projects.
Ibas said a series of transformative reforms was underway. This he said include an upward review of salaries and allowances for Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to bridge the wage gap with political office holders and a new N85,000 minimum wage, which is being implemented at the local government level.
He further disclosed that a significant investment in training and upskilling programmes, including the first large-scale training for finance and accounting officers, with more planned for senior and middle-level staff.
Monthly pension allocations have been increased from N2 billion to N2.6 billion to ensure timely payments, he added, saying that all pensioners, both home and abroad, have been verified and enrolled in the state’s contributory health scheme.
Similarly, enrollment of all workers in the state’s contributory health protection programme (Government: 17%, Staff: 8%) has been initiated with a Group Life Insurance programme that will soon take effect to ensure prompt payment of entitlements to families of deceased workers.
The administrator said a full-scale revitalization of state-owned media establishments, including Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation, Rivers State Television, and The Tide Newspaper, involving renovation, new equipment, and modern upgrades.
“With accurate data and a reinvigorated workforce, Rivers State is set on a path of sustainable growth and excellence in governance,” he declared.
The event also featured the unveiling of the new Rivers State Civil Service Handbook and the maiden edition of The Bureaucrat magazine by the Acting Head of Service, Inyingi Brown, who said the publications were designed to guide, inform, and showcase the work of civil servants while promoting efficiency and ethical standards.
Brown launched a new pledge, vision, and mission statement for the service, emphasizing the critical role of technology in building an agile, responsive, and effective civil service capable of delivering on the state’s ambitious development agenda.
